Читать книгу Anxiety For Dummies - W. Doyle Gentry, Laura L. Smith - Страница 55

More than a few types of diseases and medical conditions can create anxiety-like symptoms. That’s why we strongly recommend that you visit your doctor, especially if you’re experiencing significant anxiety for the first time. Your doctor can help you sort out whether you have a physical problem, a reaction to a medication, an emotionally based anxiety problem, or some combination of these. Table 3-2 lists just some of the medical conditions that produce anxiety symptoms.

Getting sick can cause anxiety, too. For example, if you receive a serious diagnosis of heart disease, cancer, or a chronic progressive disorder, you may develop anxiety about dealing with the consequences of what you’ve been told. The techniques we give you for dealing with anxiety throughout this book can help you manage this type of anxiety as well.

TABLE 3-2 Medical Imposters

Medical Condition	What It Is	Anxiety-Like Symptoms
Hypoglycemia	Low blood sugar; sometimes associated with other disorders or can occur by itself. A common complication of diabetes.	Confusion; irritability; trembling; sweating; rapid heartbeat; weakness; cold, clammy feeling
Hyperthyroidism	Excess amount of thyroid hormone. Various causes.	Nervousness, restlessness, sweating, fatigue, sleep disturbance, nausea, tremor, diarrhea
Other hormonal imbalances	Various conditions associated with fluctuations in hormone levels, such as premenstrual syndrome (PMS), menopause, or postpartum. Highly variable symptoms.	Tension, irritability, headaches, mood swings, compulsive behavior, fatigue, panic
Lupus	An autoimmune disease in which the patient’s immune system attacks certain types of its own cells.	Anxiety, poor concentration, irritability, headaches, irregular heartbeat, impaired memory
Mitral valve prolapse	The mitral valve of the heart fails to close properly, allowing blood to flow back into the left atrium. Often confused with panic attacks in making the diagnosis.	Palpitations, shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain, difficulty breathing
Heart disease (including arrhythmias and tachycardia)	Conditions that involve narrowed or blocked blood vessels, problems with muscle, valves, or rhythm	Shortness of breath, noticeable changes in rhythm or skipped beats, chest tightness or pain
Chronic lung conditions (e.g., COPD, asthma)	Irritation or damage to the lungs	Shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, feelings of not getting enough air, panic
Ménière’s syndrome	An inner ear disorder that includes vertigo, loss of hearing, and ringing or other noises in the ear.	Vertigo that includes abnormal sensations associated with movement, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and sweating

When you notice new signs of anxiety, ponder what changes you’ve made in your life. Have you started a new medication? Is something unusually stressful going on? How is your health? Have you made major changes to your diet or exercise routines? Answers to these questions may give you clues as to what’s causing your uptick in anxiety. But, it’s never a bad idea to check out these symptoms with your primary healthcare provider to play it safe.